Welcome, everybody, to the Carriker Chronicles -- the People's Show -- bringing you the pulse of Husker Nation. Today I have a very special guest, Mr. Andy Janovich. He was Honorable Mention All-Big 10 his senior year, earned some All-Big 10 accolades. He lead the Nebraska special teams in tackles his senior year and was Lifter of the Year in 2015. He not only stood out on special teams but any time he got the ball in his hands he did pretty well with it too.

Adam Carriker: How ya doin' Andy?

Andy Janovich: Good. Thanks for having me.

AC: Thanks for coming on. I like to have fun on this show so I'm going to hit you with a question right out of the gate: why didn't you get the ball more your senior year at Nebraska?

AJ: I really couldn't tell you; I don't know. I was just a fullback; I was out there to keep 'em honest more than get the ball but I think after a while people started keying in on me more than anything, that's probably it a little bit.

AC: I was doing some research and I saw that you had 6.3 yards per carry, you averaged 29 yards per reception, and of course you had the 55 yard touchdown run versus Wisconsin that kind of lit Memorial Stadium up. I remember at the time I was writing articles and I said, "Man, maybe we should start this guy at running back; we don't have a defined running back, let's put him at running back." I've been wanting to ask you that question for quite a while but I didn't think you'd hammer anybody on the head with the answer.Doing some recon on you, I noticed that you and Sam Foltz came in together, and you played four seasons with Sam. Could you tell us a little bit what that experience was like those four years you had with Sam Foltz?

AJ: It was awesome. I mean that guy -- you won't find anybody that was a nicer, more genuine guy than Sam. We weren't by any means best friends but we did hang out quite a bit; he lived right down the street from me. He was just a good guy. Always hard-working, didn't really care about fame or anything, he just went out there and did his thing; that's just how he was. Like his motto, kind of, "dream big, work hard, stay humble." That's the best way to sum it up.

AC: You guys both walked on to the program together. Are there any stories you could share with the fans? Anything you think might be interesting?

AJ: (laughs). Uh, well I remember the first time we were getting drug tested. We had to pee over a trash can. I remember Sam thought it was the funniest thing in the world. Ah, it makes me laugh.

AC: Nice! Now talk to me about what it was like being a walk-on. My brother-in-law Jeff was a walk-on (that's actually how I met my wife); we played D-end together. What was walking on to the program like for you, because I know you had offers elsewhere, and you passed on those offers to come play at Nebraska.

AJ: Yeah, Nebraska was always the play I really wanted to go. I had offers elsewhere but they weren't big schools. Nebraska was the only D-1 school that gave me a walk-on. No other D-1 school gave me any sort of scholarship or anything like that. I had offers like Kearney and South Dakota and whatnot, but I don't know: Nebraska's where I wanted to go so I mean I just knew I had to work hard. It wasn't going to be given to me, just like any other walk-on knows. You gotta just put your foot down and grind every day.

AC: Now, you played as a true freshman. Talk to me about what it was like the first time you stepped on Memorial field in front of that crowd, and the first time you saw some live action as well. Talk to me about what those experiences were like for you.

AJ: Oh, it's really something you'll never forget the first time you step onto Memorial field with all those fans out there. I mean it's crazy, especially after the Tunnel Walk. You come out and there's 90 to 95,000 fans; they're just going nuts and it just sends chills down your spine, you know? It's hard to forget. And the first time I saw action, I was just really nervous. I was a freshman. I think I played the fourth game. I caught a pass from Ron Kellogg and I didn't know what to do. I probably could've broken if I'd been a little bit more relaxed. It was fun.

AC: Compare that experience your freshman year, your fourth game of the year, getting some real action versus that fifty-five yard touchdown run vs. Wisconsin to give Nebraska the lead at the time. I ask because Memorial Stadium just erupted when that happened. Compare those two experiences for us.

AJ: Besides the timing, it was pretty similar. I guess also how loud Memorial Stadium was that day. I mean, I've never heard the stadium be that loud before -- it was insane when I scored that touchdown. I can't even put it into words, it's crazy, but I don't know: they're both very exciting moments and the only similarity I'd put in that is that I just really, really got a lot of excitement from both of them.

AC: Tell me one thing that sticks out to you about your career when you look back at your time at Nebraska with the Huskers.

AJ: What stood out? Hmm, that's tough. I guess just the guys that you got to hang out with, that's one thing. I mean, you get guys from all over the country, guys from Nebraska, walk-ons, everything, it's just kind of a big melting pot, and how everybody can come together and get along. It's kind of cool, so I mean that's one thing that really, really stood out for me, I guess, was just the camaraderie that you had with everybody; you're all just working toward one common goal, and everybody wants to win games, then you go drink a beer or two with them after the game. You just get along. It's not like that in the NFL right now.

AC: Now let's talk a little more about current Huskers. What are your thoughts on Mike Riley, the head coach there? You played there for him for a year, you played for Bo Pelini before that. What are your thoughts about what Mike Riley is currently trying to do there at Nebraska?

AJ: I think they brought him in there kinda going for more of a Tom Osborne-type guy, somebody that's just a little more laid back. I think they're just really trying to get away from the whole Bo screaming in people's faces and hating the media and everything. So I think that's one thing they got when they brought him in. Mike Riley -- what he's really just trying to establish is just old smash-mouth football like it was back in the day. Simple as that. It's what every coach in the nation is after.

AC: What about playing for coach Danny Langsdorf your senior year? The new offense they were bringing in was an adjustment from the previous staff, so talk about how that adjustment was that first year and your thoughts on Coach Langsdorf.

AJ: That adjustment was great. It worked out for me, because I was hardly playing for Coach Bo's staff at all. They were just trying to do more of a zone offense with just a feature back and Riley came in with Langsdorf and they wanted to use more of a pro-style offense, which worked out great and they started giving me a little more time every week. I mean, I love Langsdorf; that guy's awesome. Really knowledgeable about the game, professional, and just real easy to get along with.

AC: What are your thoughts about Nebraska? We've been known for the option for years, and we had Zac Taylor and Joey Ganz, but for years we've been known for the option. What do you think about Nebraska officially going this year to a pocket quarterback and a pro-style quarterback this season?

AJ: I don't know. I mean, I hope it works out. I don't even know who's running for the quarterback right now.

AC: Tanner Lee, he transferred from Tulane and then Patrick O'Brien. I think those guys came in after you left.

AJ: OK. Whatever Riley does I believe in him. I love that guy. He's a great coach and whatever he wants to do I'm going to believe in him.

AC: I gotta ask: what was it like playing for Tommy Armstrong? Because I heard a coach, and not that Tommy is Brett Favre or anything like that, but he kind of reminded me in the way he played a little bit. I heard a coach describe coaching Brett Favre as, "no no no no no no no YES." Like, he doesn't know what he's doing throughout the play but the end result was pretty good. Tommy's a different human being but Tommy kind of had a little bit of that in him. So what was it like playing with Tommy Armstrong?

AJ: It was great. That guy -- he's one of the most competitive guys you're ever going to be around. He wanted to win games and every now and then he was willing to throw the ball into double- or triple-coverage to make big plays. A lot of times it paid off, sometimes it didn't but I mean I trusted him, everything he did: throwing the ball, running the ball, and just as a quarterback in general. I mean, he was a good person to be with.

AC: Now, you're a fullback, you're a smash-mouth guy. I personally enjoyed watching you play, I think a lot of the fans did, too, at Nebraska and with the Broncos so far early on in your career. I know Riley wants to be one of the top three running teams in the Big10, but he also likes to throw the ball quite a bit. Do you have any concerns that we won't be quite physical enough to win or compete for championships on a consistent level in the Big10 conference?

AJ: Uh, I think that'll come with time, I mean just with recruiting because right now we still have a lot of guys from Bo's staff, so maybe it wasn't what he was looking for. And I also trust in Mark Phillip. That guy, that guy will get you strong. I mean, his program was one of the best programs I've ever done. I love Dobson but I really, really enjoyed Mark Phillip's program a lot. He's going to get you big, he's going to develop guys, and he's going to make them ready for football and it's up to the coaches to just get the players all coached up and everything that they need, all the tools necessary.

AC: Let's talk a little bit of NFL. You just had your rookie year, just completed it. What was your rookie year like playing for the Denver Broncos this past season?

AJ: I really enjoyed it. The thing I enjoyed most is not having to go to class every day.

AC: I'm with you! (laughs)

AJ: That just makes football that much harder. I mean you're concentrating on 15 credit hours a semester then you've got to go and get on the field, watch film and all that stuff. I mean, that's a full work-week right there in itself, and to add school on top is terrible. With the NFL the classroom's just your playbook. It's way better. You can just spend all your time and energy learning football and just perfecting your craft. That's what I really enjoy about the NFL.

AC: What was the biggest difference for you coming into the NFL on the field? What was the biggest thing you noticed on the field?

AJ: Just that everybody else is bigger, faster, and stronger than they were in college. I mean, everybody at that level is just an athlete, so you've got to step your game up that much more. That was the big adjustment.

AC: You got injured this year, you got put on I.R. You had an ankle surgery. But I read that you hurt it on the first play of the game against the Chiefs, and then you played. The coaches could see you were struggling, but you played the entire game on that hurt ankle, and then you ended up having to have surgery afterwards. I thought that was quite impressive. Give us an update on how you're feeling with the ankle. What exactly did you hurt?

AJ: I tore the three ligaments on the outside of my ankle, then there's one on the inside I guess I tore a little bit, too. They put in a tightrope and a plate I guess, just to hold those two bones together, so when I put pressure on it, it doesn't move. But yeah, right now my injury, it's good. I mean, I'm cleared to go and I've been working out for the last two months and I'm pretty much back in football shape and ready to play again.

AC: Awesome. I've got two more questions for you. Rookie hazing: did you have to do anything? They make you do anything as a rookie?

AJ: (laughs) I got a haircut. They shaved half my head, left a few random patches, and I have to say it wasn't too bad.

AC: Aw, they were so kind to you!

AJ: I guess we did a rookie talent show too.

AC: OK. Those are always fun. What'd you do for the show?

AJ: I did a card trick.

AC: OK, they were kind to you, man! I've seen guys thrown in a cold tub, taped to the goal post, you've got to take the team out for dinner (that's not cheap!), especially with some of the big boys on an NFL team. Last question: so, your junior and senior year of high school, you were two-time state champion in wrestling and you had a record of 99-0. Is this correct?

AJ: Yea.

AC: Talk to me a little bit about that. What, you couldn't get to 100-0? What's the problem? (laughs)

AJ: That was my junior and senior year. I guess it was because those were the only two years I went undefeated. My sophomore year I was 37-1

AC: Nice!

AJ: And then my freshman I was like 29-10.

AC: Nice, nice. Well, you're talking to a guy who likes to watch the scripted stuff, WWE, but I respect the heck outta that. That caught my eye when I read that. That's very impressive. Thank you for joining me, and if you ever need anything, man, just hit me up.

AJ: Hey I appreciate it. Thank you.

AC: All right, GO BIG RED, until Fast Friday, and always remember ...

AJ: to THROW THE BONES!